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Overview
In a world where humans are treated like cattle, one man must find the courage to love and heal the vampire who owns him.
Andor's been a vampire for centuries and has never experienced weakness in his long life. Yet something runs through his blood, bringing darkness to his sight and his world. His herd of humans has been compromised by a rival, yet there is one man whose blood is pure. Unfortunately for Andor, Sven ran away from him months ago.
Sven left Andor's herd when he realised Andor would never see him as anything other than a blood donor. Being dragged back like a spoiled child doesn't sit well with him until he discovers Andor needs him.
Blindness and danger swirl around Andor and Sven as they deal with their own attraction. Will Sven's blood and love be enough to keep Andor from slipping further into the darkness threatening to claim the vampire?
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780857152749 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Totally Entwined Group |
| Publication date: | 08/30/2010 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 95 |
| File size: | 364 KB |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Shadows blended, graduating from light grey to the darkest black. They neither stayed still nor moved in any direction. The harder Andor strained to make out any tiny detail, the more the lights pulsed with a weird life of their own.
A cough drew his attention to a larger shadow standing where he knew the door to his study was.
"Yes?"
"He's arrived, sir."
They had sent Tony to inform him. Andor recognised the hesitation in the young man's voice like Tony weighed every word before he spoke.
"Good. Where is he now?"
Andor didn't move from where he sat, not wanting to appear weak in front of any of his herd.
"In his room, sir. Malachi escorted him there before sending me to tell you."
A heady surge of relief swept through Andor. It had almost killed him when Sven left the compound, yet he stayed away from the young human. He hoped Sven would have returned on his own, but with Andor's health and very existence in jeopardy, he couldn't wait any longer. Hopefully, he'd be able to convince Sven to help him instead of forcing him to give Andor what he needed. Also, with Sven back home, Andor wouldn't have to worry about something happening to the human meant to be everything to Andor.
"His door isn't locked, is it?"
"No, sir. Malachi has someone watching it, but there's nothing to keep him here."
Tony was right. There wasn't anything to keep Sven at the compound, yet Andor hoped the mortal would be angry enough at being forced to return, he'd stick around, if only to chew Andor out.
"Thank you, Tony, and relay my appreciation to Malachi. Tell him he may have his choice from the herd as an award."
"Certainly, sir."
Unhappiness filled Tony's voice and Andor knew the young guard hoped Malachi would choose him instead of one of the humans making up Andor's herd.
"Good night." He waved, dismissing the messenger and the dark block he assumed was Tony disappeared through the black square behind it.
Andor rubbed his eyes. Damn vision was fucked and not having fed for a week didn't help matters. Being an older vampire, Andor didn't have to feed as often as the younger ones, but with the poison still ravaging his body, he should have been feeding every other day to try and combat it.
Standing, he remained still until he oriented himself with the large desk at one end of his study. No one had been in his suite of rooms since he awoke and there wasn't any way they could get in while he slept. It was one of the many precautions Malachi instituted when he'd come to work for Andor.
He made it across the room without mishap, hating the shuffling steps he had to take to insure he didn't run into a coffee table or a piece of furniture he'd forgotten was there. There was truth in the cliché, 'you never know what you have until it's gone'. He never knew how much he relied on his eyes until they had been taken from him, or at least, his eyesight had been stolen from him.
Andor had been a god in the vampire society he travelled amongst, but now he was pathetic and helpless. Weak when being weak could get him killed. There were those waiting in the wings for his downfall. The loss of his eyesight was only the beginning of his decline in power, if he couldn't do something to stop the deterioration or assert his power in a different way.
He found the top of the chair at the desk and slowly eased down into the seat. Pulling himself closer to the desk, he fumbled with the drawers until his hand found the right one and he tugged it open. Andor reached in and grabbed the box he'd tucked at the back of the drawer. He rested it on his lap while he trailed his fingers over the engraved words along its top.
"Elessa," he murmured. "I could love him as much, if not more, than I loved you, but he fears me and what I offer."
He closed his eyes, and rested his head back against the cushion of the chair. His head pounded from forcing his eyes to focus on something, to draw details and colours into his brain. He longed for the way things used to be, but knew in his soul, they would never be the same. His grip tightened on the wooden box in his hands.
Centuries passed like the trickling of water through a riverbed. Minutes and seconds built on each other until years had gone by and he'd lost anything that made him human. His only connection to what he once was hated him and had run away instead of taking his rightful place at the head of Andor's herd.
Elessa would tell him it was wrong to think of the humans he fed off as cattle, but what else were they? He housed and fed them. In return, they gave him their blood. It was just like any rancher or shepherd. Was that the reason why Sven ran away? Or was there more to Sven's leaving than Andor treating humans like livestock?
Opening the box, he pulled out a small frame. He ran his fingers over the bumps and swirls left by the oil paint. The pain in his heart made him gasp. Gods, it hurt to know he'd never be able to look on this portrait and remember her face. Without this image, he feared he would forget what Elessa looked like. Yet even now, Sven's face often became super-imposed over Elessa's in his mind.
It had only been since Sven turned eighteen that Andor had thought about feeding from him. Most humans experienced pleasure from the connection and Andor wasn't ashamed of the fact that he took advantage of that to feed and fuck whoever he drank from. Men or women, it didn't matter as long as Andor got their blood.
"What am I to do, Elessa? He is one of yours and I can't make him do anything he doesn't want to do." He could almost hear her laughing at him. "Yes, my heart is involved this time. The first since I held you dying in my arms. If you were alive, you would enjoy this. I could love him, yet he is disgusted by me."
No answer came from the painting and he put it away before returning the box to the desk drawer. Inhaling deeply, he straightened his shoulders and climbed to his feet. It was time to face the lion in his den. He made it to the door without incident and found Malachi waiting outside in the hall.
"The hallway is clear. I had all the furniture removed, so you will only need to worry about running into the walls, but the carpet covers the middle of the floor until about two inches away from the wall. When you feel the edge under your foot, you know the wall is close."
"Tony said Sven is in his usual room."
"Yes, sir. Summon me if you need me." Malachi's voice faded, though Andor knew the man stood in the darkness behind him, watching and keeping an eye out for him like any loyal dog would.
Sven's room was four doors down from Andor's on the opposite side of the hallway. Andor tried to move confidently, trailing his hand over the wall, across the doors, counting them, even though it was only Malachi who watched him. Agonizing minutes later, Andor stood outside Sven's door. He knocked and waited. When there wasn't any answer, he turned the knob and stepped in.
Anger hung in the room. Andor understood. No one appreciated being dragged back home like a wayward child. Malachi wouldn't have told Sven anything. Shifting through the layers of emotions piling in the air around him, Andor discovered a tiny hint of relief hidden deep under the anger. Was Sven happy Andor had sent someone after him? Had he wanted that all along?
Andor shook his head, frustrated by his doubts. It had been so long since he was human, he'd lost any ability to discern the truth out of emotions. He doubted he'd ever had that ability. As a warrior, emotions could get one killed, and as a vampire, through the centuries, one learned emotions meant nothing when one lived forever.
Rustling caught his attention and he imagined Sven either sat on the bed or stood by the window. The only good thing was both were in the same direction.
"Thank you for returning with Malachi."
Sven snorted, but didn't speak.
"Something has arisen and your presence was needed." Desired.
Andor didn't need his eyesight to tell that Sven stared at him in disbelief. It was how he'd react to that statement if someone said that to him.
"I hope you've found your room the way you left it. The only one allowed in here after you left was Malachi. I didn't want it to be dirty when you came back."
He snapped his mouth closed. Babbling like an idiot wasn't a becoming trait for a vampire. No words seemed forthcoming from Sven, so Andor decided retreat was best. Plus the sun was about to rise and exhaustion pulled at his senses.
"Welcome home, Sven. If you wish for anything, ask Malachi."
After shutting the door behind him, he started down the hall towards his suite. Malachi's shadow appeared in his range of vision.
"Bring Doctor Ramshall to the compound, Malachi. Maybe he can help us figure out what's wrong."
"Yes, sir."
Confident Malachi would do as he commanded, Andor headed for bed, hoping Sven's intoxicating scent would dissipate soon. No sense in driving himself crazy over something he couldn't have.
CHAPTER 2"Sir, the doctor is here."
Andor acknowledged Malachi's announcement with a wave of his hand, motioning for the doctor to enter. Turning, he stayed by the window and waited for the man to join him. A second presence came to stand by Malachi's solid form. This one was slight and, in an odd way, soothing. It had to be the doctor, for healers were the only ones to give off that sense to Andor.
His eyesight had worsened since his last full feed and his instincts told him not even Sven's pure blood would help him, which was why he'd had Malachi bring the doctor to him.
"How can I help you, Master Andor?" The doctor stopped a respectful distance away, and his outline, the only thing visible to Andor, bowed.
"You came highly recommended for your talent and your discretion, Doctor Ramshall. Since you have worked with my kind before, I know you won't discuss what we talk about in this meeting."
Ramshall's close-mouthed policy when it came to his clients attracted Andor more than the man's talent. If any of Andor's rivals got wind of his blindness, they would use this opportunity to oust him from his throne. He'd fought too hard and too long to allow that to happen.
"Of course not, sir." Ramshall's tone bordered on the patronizing.
Andor flashed his fangs, silently warning the doctor who the most dangerous one in the room was.
"Sorry, sir."
Motioning for the doctor to join him, Andor accepted his apology.
"My herd has become contaminated." Once he'd figured out that whatever ruined his eyesight came from his herd, he stopped feeding from them.
The outline of Ramshall's head tilted and Andor worked out the doctor was staring at him.
"Contaminated? In what way?"
"I'm working on finding out how the poison was introduced and who did it. You are here to find out the what." Andor touched the corner of his right eye where it twitched slightly.
"How do you know this is from your herd and not an illness you contracted?"
He whirled from the window and strolled to the couch where he flopped onto the cushions, not caring about his expensive suit and the wrinkles he created in it.
"There are very few illnesses that can affect a vampire of my power, Ramshall. I've investigated the symptoms and I have none of them."
Actually, Malachi checked them for him. The slow loss of his sight had frustrated Andor as it began to limit his abilities.
"May I examine you, sir? To rule out all of those illnesses for certain."
He gracelessly agreed to Ramshall's request.
"May I draw some blood?"
Keeping his eyes closed, Andor nodded. A rubber tourniquet squeezed his upper arm and a small prick at the inside of his arm kept him informed of what the doctor did.
"Only one vial, Ramshall, and destroy what you don't use."
Andor couldn't risk allowing his blood to fall into the wrong hands. Unscrupulous people could create beings like zombies from it.
"Of course, sir. I think I'll be here for a few days. I have to examine your herd as well."
"Whatever you need. Malachi will set it up for you."
"Thank you. Unless your blood tells me something different, I think you are right about something else affecting you."
All Andor saw when he opened his eyes was the blurry outline of Ramshall as the doctor put his instruments away in his bag.
"How did you come to believe that the people you feed from are contaminated?"
Ramshall remained standing, solidifying Andor's respect for the doctor. No one sat in the presence of a Master without their permission. He had no inclination to allow such familiarity.
He rubbed his chin. "I went to a business meeting with another Master. In keeping with tradition, he offered me a drink from one of his herd. It's only proper that I accept. After feeding, I noticed I didn't feel as nauseous as I had been lately after feeding from my own. Also ..." His voice trailed off, not wanting to mention the biggest problem he was having.
"Also," Ramshall encouraged him to continue.
After shoving to his feet, he began to wander his study. When he realised he was going blind, he'd memorised everything in the room and threatened Malachi with a long torturous death if anything was moved without his permission. Of course, the threat would have been more effective if Malachi could die.
"I've lost most of my eye sight. I can only see shadows now. Greys against black."
A startled gasp shot across the room, but Andor didn't stop his restless pacing. He'd known Sven had entered the room. His hearing, always superior, seemed extraordinary now. It didn't matter if Sven knew about Andor's trouble or not, Sven wouldn't betray him to any of his enemies. Andor knew that much about the human.
"Now you understand why you must keep your visit a private matter."
"Yes, sir. I will begin testing your blood tonight and start gathering samples from your herd in the morning."
After summoning Malachi, he waited until Malachi had escorted Ramshall from the room before acknowledging Sven.
"I thought you were ignoring me to teach me a lesson." Andor settled on the couch again after stripping off his shirt and leaving it in a pile on the floor.
"Is it true?" Sven rushed to him, and disregarding all custom, sat without permission. He rested his hand on Andor's arm.
Glancing down at the touch, Andor frowned. "Was the time you were gone long enough to forget what you were taught?"
"Stop it. There's no one here but you and me. We don't need to stand on ceremony."
"We don't?" Andor jerked away from Sven and stood, unsure of where to go.
Going to the herd was out of the question. Too much movement and chaos. He no longer saw well enough to walk among them without revealing his secret.
"Ceremony and duty are all we have left between us." He hoped his words cut deep into Sven. It was the human who had chosen to run away from the compound and his place in the herd. Andor had never pushed Sven away.
"Wait."
Sven's voice came from behind him, telling Andor the human had stood as well.
"Wait? Who are you to give me orders?"
He swung around, capturing Sven's throat in his hand and dragging the shorter man up onto his toes. He flashed his fangs and Sven's pulse sped up under Andor's fingers. Sven's scent became a familiar mix of arousal and fear.
"You left me, Sven. Malachi dragged you back here under protest. He told me you fought and argued with him the entire time."
"He's like a robot. Nothing I did or said worked on him," Sven gasped.
Andor laughed with bitter joy. "Of course not. He lives only to serve me. What you or anyone else wants is irrelevant."
He flexed his fingers, warning Sven who held his life in his hand. Instead of tossing him away like he would've with anyone else, Andor set him on his feet and let him go.
What Andor wanted to do was go to his sleeping chamber, curl up under his furs and blankets, and forget all the bullshit surrounding him. Unfortunately, he had never been weak or a coward, so hiding wasn't an option.
"Why did you leave me?" He ground his teeth together and swore silently. He hadn't wanted to ask that question.
Sven paced and Andor tracked his movements by listening to Sven's footsteps.
"I left because I wanted to be more than a member of your herd," Sven mumbled, his confession forced from him.
Andor frowned. "You are the most important of my herd. Your family has served as its foundation from the moment I became undead."
"See, that's just it. I wanted to be special to you because you cared for me, not my blood line."
"You are important. No one else, except Malachi, has permission to enter my suite of rooms. No one else is allowed access to my sleeping chamber."
If those actions didn't say he trusted Sven, nothing would. Didn't Sven see that?
"You never fed from me," Sven pointed out. "You drank from everyone else but me."
"Because I knew you found it distasteful." Andor didn't know what more Sven wanted. "I outgrew forcing my dinner after the first century I was a vampire."
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Out of Light into Darkness"
by .
Copyright © 2010 T.A. Chase.
Excerpted by permission of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
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